The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Beginner \Be*gin"ner\, n.
   One who begins or originates anything. Specifically: A young
   or inexperienced practitioner or student; a tyro.
   [1913 Webster]

         A sermon of a new beginner.              --Swift.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

beginner
    n 1: someone new to a field or activity [syn: novice,
         beginner, tyro, tiro, initiate]
    2: a person who founds or establishes some institution; "George
       Washington is the father of his country" [syn: founder,
       beginner, founding father, father]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

91 Moby Thesaurus words for "beginner":
   abecedarian, agent, alphabetarian, ancestors, apprentice,
   architect, articled clerk, artificer, artist, author, baby,
   begetter, boot, builder, catalyst, catechumen, causer, colt,
   conceiver, constructor, craftsman, creator, deb, debutant,
   designer, deviser, discoverer, effector, engenderer, engineer,
   entrant, executor, executrix, father, fledgling, founder, freshman,
   generator, greenhorn, greeny, grower, ignoramus, inaugurator,
   inductee, industrialist, infant, initiate, initiator, inspirer,
   instigator, institutor, introducer, inventor, journeyman, learner,
   maker, manufacturer, master, master craftsman, mother, mover,
   neophyte, nestling, new boy, newcomer, novice, novitiate,
   organizer, originator, parent, past master, planner, postulant,
   precursor, prime mover, primum mobile, probationer, probationist,
   producer, raiser, raw recruit, realizer, recruit, rookie, shaper,
   sire, smith, tenderfoot, trainee, tyro, wright